The Evening Star TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1935. ROYAL TOUR ENDS.

Evening Star, Issue 21934, 22 January 1935, Page 8

The Evening Star TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1935. ROYAL TOUR ENDS.

It will be remembered that when the Royal tour to Australia and New Zealand was first planned it was announced that Prince George, His Majesty’s fourth son. would represent the King. The Prince, however, was feeling the effects of his strenuous South African visit, and it was decided that the Duke of Gloucester should come in his stead. Prince George was soon called bn to fulfil another engagement. His romantic betrothal to Princess Marina was announced. to be followed shortly by a wedding in Westminster Abbey that was regarded with sympathetic interest in every part of the Empire and was joyfully acclaimed by immense crowds in the great metropolis. Prince Henry, soldier by profession, landed on A us-' tralian soil on October 4. His enthusiastic reception at (Perth was a demonstration of proverbial Australian hospitality and of the loyalty and affection with which the Royal House is regarded. The Duke of Gloucester then began a tour of live six States of the Commonwealth, faithfully carrying out duties which while of absorbing interest to each community visited must because of the endless repetition of similar functions have been a very exacting task to the Prince, The chief reason for bis visit to these southern dominions was to represent His Majesty at the celebrations in Victoria, which were the culmination of a century of endeavour and successful accomplishment in that State. Having fulfilled his mission in the Commonwealth, the Prince crossed the Tasman and landed in New Zealand. His tour of this dominion, on a smaller scale, was on the lines of the Australian visit, and was carried out faithfully according to the programme that had been arranged. No jarring incident marred the tour, which served to show that the loyalty manifested on three previous tours of this dominion by members of the House of Windsor has in no way abated. If disappointment of a minor kind was felt by communities or individuals over tivc tour, the larger issue must be borne in mind, as well as the fact that the visit to Australia and New Zealand was a hurried one, constant travel and official receptions imposing a great strain on the Prince. This point is mentioned by Mr Forbes in his statement at the conclusion of the Royal visit, and it will be endorsed by the officials who took part in the tour. Their task was lightened by the fact that it was practically free from anxiety in a community

notable for its loyalty. The good work that they accomplished is gratefully acknowledged, ana a word of congratulation is duo to Sir James Young and the other officials who have hud Iwnours conferred on them. This Royal visit is of particular siguidcance at the moment, when we sec a united far-flung Empire in the midst of a distracted world. His Majesty the King is the head of a Commonwealth of Eree Nations. Jn the storms — financial, social, and economic—that have swept over the world in the postwar years the British people have stood four-square to the elements, and have emerged from the ordeal with a remarkable degree of success. All through Britain has led the way on the path of peace. The Empire’s strength is its unity, giving it power in all departments of national life. A visible symbol of tin's unity is the Throne, and it is demonstrated in the loyal devotion of the people to the person of His Majesty the King, who Ims set a shining example of integrity and simplicity of character and faithful and impartial devotion to the obligations of his exalted office. The Throne is a tie that binds the units ot the Empire together, and the tour of Jlis Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, lasting more than a hundred days, will have the effect of drawing the bonds closer.